Some patients undergoing shoulder arthrography with a stiff and painful joint have a small volume capsule or a frozen shoulder. In the past, treatment of frozen shoulder has included watchful waiting, physical therapy, range of motion exercise, systemic antiinflammatory medication, analgesics, and intraarticular injection of local anesthetic and steroids. In certain cases, the arthrographic procedure has been therapeutic and joint distension has effected a return to normal function.
After arthrography, improved range of motion will occur immediately, but this improve
ment must be maintained by active range of motion, and heat therapy for several days after arthrography.
In 18 patients with frozen shoulder, we applied shoulder arthrography and physical therapy, and followed up 18 patients for 1 months.
The results were summerized as follows.
1) Shoulder range of motion at prearthrogram was 90.83 ´29.73´ in forward flexion, 69.44 ±21.47° in abduction, 10.28±10.47° in external rotation, 170.56±51.10° in total.
2) Shoulder range of motion at 1 week after arthrogram was 116.67±24.94° in forward flexion, 92.94±30.10° in abduction, 21.39±14.98° in external rotation, 230.83±62.26° in total, each range of motion were increased 25.84°, 23.5°, 11.11°, and 60.27° than range of motion at prearthrogram
3) Shoulder range of motion at 1 month after arthrogram was 131.67±31.84° in forward flexion, 117.92±37.08° in abduction, 30.83±15.92° in external rotation, 266.67±84.91° in total, each range of motion were increased 40.84°, 48.48°, 20.55°, and 96.11° than range of motion at prearthrogram.
4) In frozen shoulder, shoulder arthrogram with continued physical therapy seem to acquire not only increased range of motion but also short duration of tretament.
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